Niles holds a distinction that no other place in Michigan can claim -- in its 300-year history, it has been occupied by four different countries. Today, Niles embraces that legacy by calling itself the “City of Four Flags.” Visit this city of more than 10,000, as of the 2011 Census, to learn about its history, to enjoy nature and to wander through a scary haunted house. Niles is 11 miles north of South Bend, Indiana, making it an ideal day trip for people visiting the University of Notre Dame.

History

The French built Fort St. Joseph in 1691 to protect a mission and trading post. Visit the Fort St. Joseph Museum (ci.niles.mi.us) in Niles to learn how the fort fell to the British in 1691 and to Spain in 1781. The United States acquired the Niles area in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Other exhibits cover the region’s connection to the Underground Railroad and the Lakota Indians, highlighted by a dozen Chief Sitting Bull hand-drawn pictographs. The History Center at Courthouse Square (berrienhistory.org) has buildings dating to the 1830s, making it the oldest surviving county government complex in the Midwest. You’ll see a log house from 1830, a courthouse from 1839 and an 1870s sheriff’s house. The center is in Berrien Springs, 10 miles northwest of Niles.

Nature and Recreation

Enjoy a stress-free day at the Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve (fernwoodbotanical.org) in Niles. Take a soothing walk through a nature preserve that stretches 55 acres with a recreated tall-grass prairie, ponds and streams. The site has more than a dozen places to explore, including a fern house with a goldfish pond, an arboretum with nesting areas for bluebirds and a variety of gardens like a Japanese Garden with bonsai. Along the way, you can spot in excess of 10 species of birds and wildlife such as queen snakes. Two nearby parks run by the Berrien County Parks department (berriencounty.org) provide year-round recreational fun. Both the Madeline Bertrand County Park in Niles and the Love Creek Park in Berrien Springs have trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and mountain biking. Additionally, Madeline Bertrand has an 18-hole disc golf course, a playground and grills and picnic tables. Love Creek has a nature center that runs naturalist programs throughout the year.

Seasonal Events

Over a dozen bands get you jamming at the annual Niles Bluegrass Festival (nilesbluegrass.com) in Riverfront Park off the St. Joseph River. Other activities include karaoke, carnival rides and looking for a creative bargain with arts-and-crafts vendors. The festival usually takes place over four days in late May and early June. Your knuckles may turn white at the Niles Haunted House Scream Park (haunted.org). The park, typically open on weekends from mid-September to early November, includes three haunted houses, a maze and a haunted hayride. The four-day Annual Apple Festival (fourflagsapplefestival.org) has contests for "biggest apple," "fastest apple-pie eater," the "quickest apple peeler" and the "tastiest homemade apple pie." The four-day event -- usually held in late September in downtown Niles -- goes beyond just apples. Other highlights include live music, a parade and a Miss Apple Festival pageant.

Performing Arts

For stirring violin strings and rousing classical music, head to the Howard Performing Arts Center (howard.andrews.edu) in Berrien Springs. The center, on the campus of Andrews University, has performances throughout the year, including concerts from the university’s choir, symphony orchestra and wind symphony. The venue also has shows from visiting musicians and local schools. The Beckwith Theatre Company (beckwiththeatre.com) typically presents five shows a season, ranging from dramas to comedies. The theater is in Dowagiac, 14 miles northeast of Niles.

Resources

About the Author

A.M. David's articles have appeared in "The Washington Post" and several regional publications in a career spanning more than 15 years. He has also written for the "Princeton Packet" chain. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.